UrbanWild said:

While I agree with you that it is everywhere, it doesn't mean that limiting it anywhere you can, especially with respect to potables, edibles, and garden isn't worthwhile. I haven't mastered it, but I do reduce anywhere I can. That said, I did get two 275 gallon IBCs that I plan on using to store rainwater. I know they make stainless steel IBCs but I'm pretty sure that isn't in my budget. If I do land stainless, I'll do the happy garden dance though! 😍

All I can say for myself is that I have tried to conserve water as far as I can remember. I collect grey water from my kitchen sink and laundry. I even stand in a large basin while taking a shower in order to collect the used water.

I became even more rigorous in water conservation after traveling in Africa and India. Thus, it pains me to let the rain go down the drain. So currently I have 33 plastic rain barrels around my garden. Chemicals from the roof?

Most folks who collect rain water don't drink the stuff. Many are city folks who want to water gardens, wash cars with out paying rhe fee for city water with Chemicals in it by the way.

We live in the country and collect rain water because we don't want to be running the pump to water the garden.

I also pump water from the creek but it is normally dry by mid July.

The pole barn and honey house have steel roofs, the house will too soon.
Ever try to use a 25 year warranty to get some relief on 15 year old shingles that are falling apart?
Most people can't even find the sales recipt.

Al

Noticed a lot of readers wondering about the quality of food barrels for rain water collection. I found my food grade rain barrels and a few other hose connection gadgets at this place https://besthomegear.com/how-t.... Hope hat helps anyone else still looking!

I've been using rain barrels for about 20 years now. I found my rain barrels on Craigs list for $20.00 each, just make sure they had food in them at one time, no chemicals. I had to drill the holes and attach the spigot myself but no biggie. One at the bottom and one near the top for my overflow hose. I use a double layer of window screen over the tops to keep leaves an whatnot out of them. My gutter downspouts are cut short enough to land right over the screen. To keep the gutter trash out I use old knee high nylons stretched over the open down spout. Every so often I have to empty them but it keeps the trash out of the barrel so I'm ok with that.

I had to lay this 2x4 across the top to keep my cat off it. He likes to sleep up there. Twice I've had to put the screen back in place cuz my fat cat is too heavy for it. I'm afraid if he ever fell in he'd drown.

I have 4 rain barrels presently but last summer I added a workshop and a garage so I've ordered 2 more rainbarrels.

Catching water is easy. It's storing it that is so difficult. I used to have rain barrells, but found they couldn't hold enough water to make a beans worth of difference. Now I work on improving the soil, so it is more moisture retentive so I don't have to water.
Between the various building on the property, I could catch 30K gallons of water in a single storm, if I had somewhere to store it.

Sallymander is quite right, that 30-50 gallons of water is a tiny fraction of a real rainfall. I found that it only was sort of handy for dipping and filling watering cans for spot watering transplants and pots.

Interesting about plastic. Although I haven't attended one there are a lot of workshops around here and they all use the plastic food grade containers.

I don't have enough space to set up a rain barrel under any of my downspouts. They are either too close to a fence, a narrow path, or very large oak trees.

I have used 5 gallon buckets with mosquito dunks inside and screens on top. (see picture) Only used the water for my perennials as I don't have enough sun to grow anything edible. I forget why I stopped. Probably was sometime back when there was a lot of rain.




Right now I'm collecting water that drains from my HVAC system. Only use it on plants and they seem to like it. I just get lazy and it's hard to keep up. The bucket system I'm trying is too small. I figure whatever I am able to collect and use is better than not collecting anything.

Earlier this week, our local Atwoods (farm & feed) store had food grade rain barrels, complete with lids and faucets installed for $39.95. Impressed me as that is the cheapest I have seen them. They looked to be 35 gallon barrels.

I agree that I could harvest far more rain water than I do as rainfall is plentiful here. On the other hand, I am glad to have what I do for plants as well as emergency use for flushing and washing should the power go down.

If a million people saved a gallon a day, that would be a million gallons

sallyg said:If a million people saved a gallon a day, that would be a million gallons

Unless some of them were British.
US gallon is 3.785 liters, a Brit's gallon is 4.546 liters. Any mathematicians want to do the math? How many imperial gallons to how many US gallons to make Sallyg's statement true?

@pod — that's a heckuva deal. There was a farm and feed place a few miles from me but they closed and moved somewhere, probably away from a big city.

I'd have to put one somewhere in the backyard. Something to ponder on. I have to hope that some day it will actually rain again.

tx_flower_child said:

… I have to hope that some day it will actually rain again.

I hear you... it is either feast or famine!

Well big surprise. We have a 20% chance of rain today. Odds aren't good but still better than 0%.

You ain't getting any rain TX. The air is too dry for that northern pushing through, to get any rain. I need some to fill my rain barrels.

tx_flower_child said:Well big surprise. We have a 20% chance of rain today. Odds aren't good but still better than 0%.

Good luck, I really hope you get some!

Latest forecast here is 50% chance of rain late tonight. While I definitely want the rain, I'm especially happy with the predicted 10 degree temperature drop!

I've been melting the last few days, and my a/c is out.

My rain barrel is connected to a downspout yet, but the last time it rained it filled with a good 6-8 inches of water just from the hole in the top. Of course I added Mosquito Bits to it.

Oh no, Sue. This is not the time of year to be a/c-less. If you were closer I would say come on over. Hope they get it fixed quickly.

oneeyeluke said:You ain't getting any rain TX.

Au contraire. We did get a little rain today. Emphasis on 'a little'. There was also a bit of a temperature drop . I rarely spend much time outside this time of year because it's too dang hot. But I was out for 3 or 4 hours today. Don't know what tomorrow will bring but today was pleasant.

oneeyeluke said:You ain't getting any rain TX. The air is too dry for that northern pushing through, to get any rain. I need some to fill my rain barrels.

Hey, did you jinx it?

The rain never made it here. And the predicted 10 degree drop now looks like it will only be around 5 degrees cooler. today

But, it's cool enough that I was able to open some windows this morning.

sallysmom said:4 rain barrels here + when we know it is going to rain, the hubs puts a few buckets out as well. We have been thankful for this water when we have a hot (90+ degrees) summer & no/very little rain.

I line up all my buckets as well.... And... I have like a dozen rain barrels all lined up catching rain water.

While its true that attempting to use the rain barrel the way that most people use the spigot... Wasting water several times a week on their turf.... Wouldn't go terribly far... Using the water from the barrels when setting out transplants works a charm...

Because of the rodent pests, I'm unable to direct sow seed... Everything gets planted in gallon nursery pots and then transplanted into the garden...
Including corn, pumpkins and watermelon.

Having all those rain barrels means that I can leave the well pump turned off.
Last year, I turned on the well once. I've run the well pump twice this year.

But, yeah, plenty of mulch, saves having to water. Even in the Sandhills.


Re cold Front....
It got cold enough last night that after laying there shivering a while... Had to grab a quilt.

Should be good transplanting weather today.

I'm spending too much time right now on this website! I need to get out and mulch!